Surgical splint appliance



Aug. 6, 1935. J. R. SIEBRANDT 2,010,328

SURGICAL SPLINT APPLIANCE Filed Dec. 14, 1929 5' Sheets-Sheet l IMVENTOR:

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SURGICAL SPLINT APPLIANCE Filed Dec. 14, 1929 v s Sheets-She et 2 30 INVENTOR:

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ATTORNEY.

J. R. SIEBRANDT 1 2,010,328

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SURGICAL SPLINT APPLIANCE Filed Dec. 14, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 5g ATTORNEY J. R. SIEBRANDT 2,010,328

Patented Aug. 6, 1935 UNITED STATES- PATENT orrlcr.

2,010,328 SURGICAL SPLINT APPLIANCE John R. Siebrandt, Kansas City, Mo. Application December 14, 1929, Serial No. 414,176

3 Claims.

propriate splint and a superior type to conform more elements for the affected parts, of body attachment adapted efficiently to the body of the patient as well as to afford all desirable adjustments of the supporting structure.

It is a further object to provide a supporting structure for the splint devices which will afford 'improved means for a djustment of the various elements thereof and adapt the same for varied new uses or functions by appliances of this character. I

With these various general not heretofore facilitated objects in view, as

well as minor objects which will appear in the course of the detailed specification, the invention will now be describ ed by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating one form of embodiment of my which those proposed improvements, after features and combinations deemed to be novel will be set forth and claimed.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a general view of the complete appliance with the horizontal position and the fore upper arm support shown in -arm support in raised vertical position;

Figure 1a, illustrates a modified form; Figure 2 is a sectional detail of the joint between the lower body bracing bars;

pad and one of the rigid Figure 3 is a detail of the adjustable extension joint in the upper Figure 4 is a detail of hers carried by said upper arm support; are enlarged details of Figures 5 and 6 and wrist support Figure 7 is arm support;

the tractor hitch memthe hand ing elements;

a detail of one of the adjustable bracket elements for the shelf members;

Figure 8 is an enlarged outer face view of one of the lower pads showing the arrangement of the strap loops and straps connected therewith;

Figure 10 is a detail of the joint between the upper and fore-arm supporting members; a

Figure 9 is a sectional 1 tween the upperarm supporting member and the body pad; and

Figures 11 and joint. Referring now 12 aredetails of another form of to the drawings in detail, these illustrate the improved construction as comprisdetailfof the joint being an upper or chest pad plate H! of light metal, such as aluminum, provided with the pad lining H, and a lower hip pad l2 having the light metal plates i4 secured to the opposite ends thereof, as shown in Figure 1. To each end of the plate it is secured, as by a pin l3 and a bolt 15, one of a pair of adjustable side plates l6, each of said pair of plates It being capable of extensible adjustment by means of a slot ll, bolts l8 and clamp nuts it, as well as angular adjustment relative to the plate ID by virtue of the slots 8 and 9 in upper plate l6 and said plate iiL respectively, for slidable adjusting engagement with the bolt l5. Each of the lower side plates I6 is attached to the corresponding hip plate 14 by means of a bolt 28, the head of which engages the inner face of the plate I4 beneath the pad l2.

The headed end of each bolt 26 is formed with a squared shank portion which is adjustable along a slot 22 in the plate M, the remaining shank portion of the bolt extending through a washer 23 faced against said slot, and through a universal bearing collar 24 having its convex surface projecting within a cup bearing recess'25 formed around the bolt opening in the plate l4,- which is retained in place by a washer 26 and clamp nut 21, said washer also having a cup-shaped recess engaging the projecting convex margin formed around said bolt opening in the plate M, as illustrated in Figure 2. This construction permits all necessary adjustment tance between the pairs of side plates l6, as well as angularity of adjustment to conform to the particular physique of the subject.

To each of the lower bolts or rivets l5 of the chest plate H3 is secured a supporting strap 30 which is riveted or otherwise secured intermediate its ends, as indicated at 3 l, to a shoulder pad 32, whence these straps 38 extend downwardly and cross each other diagonally within a keeper loop 34 on the outer face of another hip pad 35. From this point the straps 38 extend to the opposite hip pad and are secured to thecorresponding boltsft, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The pad 35 is also provided with a second keeper loop 36 through which is doubled and slidingly passed an abdominal strap 31 which is looped around the plates l6 above the pad [2 for further security of attachment of the body support. All the aforesaid straps are provided with the necessary buckle elements 38.

To the outer face of the chest pad plate [0, mid-way between its ends, is secured, as by rivets 40, a bracket 4| formed with a socket 42 for the the arms 5l -.ls

' case of the upper arm adjustable mounting of a post 43 having a rosetted hinge head 44%.

One side of the socket is undercut for the angular portion of a clamp plate d5 which engages and clamps said post 43, the other end of the plate 45 being slotted for engagement with a screw 46 carried by the bracket 45 and provided with a clamp nut ll for securing the post 43, whereby the latter adjustable both vertically and also angularly about a vertical axis.

The rosetted hinge head it cooperates with a similar hinge head element for; e end of a tubular arm 55, the elements having a hinge bolt and clamp nut r other end of the arm is slotted, as indicated at 54 in Figure 3, and telescopingly fitted with a rod 55 and clamped thereto by a bolt 53 and nut 57. The rod 55 is formed with a te; nal hinge element 58 fitted with hinge bolt 59 and clamp nut for securing said element 53 in engagement either with the "-"osetted head G? of a rod Si constituting the to --arm support or with the double rosetted' head ofa tractor tension arm which insertable elements .58 and at, as illustrated u 10. This arrangement permits the e" 62 to be swung angular-1y and secured ll'l practically any desired operative nos ample, in alinel it with eithcvith thus acting adjustable adhesive hitch device in conjunction with either the fore-arm or upper arm, respectively.

The end of the arm' is formed with a laterally turned lug carrying a hinge clamping bolt 66 and nut Ed for the attachment of a bar or plate 68 to] said arm at right angles thereto. The bar or plate 68 is formed with a longitudinal slot 69 for the passage of a traction rod it carrying an adjusting nut ii for engagement with the bar 33, and also a pair of clamp nuts l2 l3 for a'djustably securing a pair of plates 74 for adhesive attachment, both of the plates 14 being slotted, as indicated at "ill (see Figure 4), for transverse adjustment with reference to the rod it, and having suitable buckle elements 76 or the like for attachment of the adhesive shown).

bands or tape (not Each of the arms l 55 and bi is designed to support a limb rest or shelf member of any desired type, such as the shelf member it in the and the member 29 in the case of the fore-arm. Each shelf member is provided with an attaching log or bracket element 8U, slotted, as indicated at 85, for adjustable engagement with the bolts 32 having the clamp nut 83, which clamping means is also utilized for securing the self to the supporting arm by means of a spring metal clip having the cylindrical portion 8 3 for arm or rod-engaging and clamping purposes, and the resilient legs 85 engaged by the bolts 82, one of which legs formed with the terminal spacing lug 86 engaging the end of the other lug 35, as shown in Figure '7.

The fore-arm shelf '58 is provided with a rounded forward terminal 83 carrying the hinge bolt 8'! and nut 38 adapted for the attachment of a hand splint device comprising a hand grip element 89 having a clamping bolt Sit and nut ill for securing the element to a hinge plate 92 having a slot 33 for the adjustment of bolt. A bolt provides a hinge connection between the plate 92 and attaching plate which is formed with a curved socket 535 fcr'fitting the terminal 8'5 and an open ended slot 9'? for engagement with the bolt 8?. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the bolt provides an axis of adjustat right angles to the bolts 87 and 9%, so that the splint device provides for all adjustments in answer to all the requirements for accom1nodating the various positions of the wrist and hand, either right or left.

t is evident that an appliance embodying the foregoing construction aiiords all necessary pro-- vision for securely supporting the splint devices from the body and for taking care of all requirements and objects of the invention as regards greater flexibility of adjustment for both length and angularity in the splint structure, also for conformity to the body of the subject.

In Figure I I illustrate a modified form of supporting means in lieu of the shoulder and hip pads 32 and 35 of Figure 1. In this modified form I employ a set of separate straps 98 connected with the front and rear margins of a half vest or jacket member 99 having the arm hole tell and the shoulder strap portion iill. The intermediate straps are looped around the side supporting plates it, while the upper and lower straps are connected by means of loops and swivel elements N33 with the bolts 65 and respectively, the straps being adjustable by means of the buckles 38, as before.

This construction simplifies the application of the supporting structure to body by obviating any liklihood of confusion due to and loosely connected pads, and at the same time all the security and firmness of the supporting means is retained. In either construction the provision of the slots Sill and 22 in the plates l8, l5 and it, respectively, enables all necessary adjustments to be effected as between the pads l l and i2 and the side supporting plates l8, as already referred to.

Figure 1 also illustrates a modified form of attachment for the bracket ll, comprising a rod m5 carrying a socket head 5% in which is adjustably clamped (by means of a screw l6?) prises a curved supporting arm Hi3 cushioned with suitable sponge rubber material ill for engagement underneath the arm pit as in the treatment of a clavicle fracture or the like.

the nerves and blood vessels practically entirely of any unnatural pressure.

A modified form of connection between the upper and forearm supporting members and the tractor hitch element is illustrated in Figures 11 and 12, where the arms 55 and 65 are shown as directly connected in coplanar relation by means of the rosetted heads 58 and 6'5 and bolt and the tractor hitch device provided with an open ended slot 63 enabling the same to he slid into engagement with the head of the bolt 59 without removing the latter. The tractor hitch arm 62 is bent or curved so as to bring it also into coplanar relation witr the arms 63 and Eli, and the forked end is formed with terminal lugs 52' for engagement with either of said arms 55 and 6! according to which of these arms the arm 52 is to be alined with.

By the described construction a body-attaching means is provided of a lighter and more comfortable form-fitting character, the chest plate the cross straps against any shifting of the splint structure due to any displacement of the supporting means. Moreover, the provision of the shoulder pad and arrangement of supporting straps as shown, not only serves to hold the supporting structure securely to the body but also leaves the opposite shoulder and the affected arm entirely free and comfortable, and without stricture of any kind. The construction of the various splint elements themselves and their connections, is extremely simple and without any unduly complex or heavy parts and yet provide all means of adjustment necessary for complete flexibility. In this connection, it will be noted that the tractor hitch device is adaptable for application of the adhesive hitch either to the upper arm in the position illustrated in Figure ,1, or by swinging into alinement with the arm 6| the parts are adjustable for applying said adhesive hitch to the forearm; and an independent means of varying the degree of traction is afforded by the adjustable nut II on the traction screw 10, as will be readily understood. While the parts are of light construction, they are strong and durable, and extremely simple in their manipulation.

It will thus be seen that I have devised a practical and efiicient appliance for fulfilling all the desired objects of the invention, and while I have illustrated what I now regard as the preferred and most practical form of construction I desire to reserve the right to make all such changes or modifications as may fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An appliance of the character described comprising a chest pad, a hip pad, securing means for attaching said pads in spaced relation to one side of the body, rigid stay devices having combination pivotal and sliding connections with said chest pad and also separate universal joint connections with said hip pad at the front and rear of the body, respectively, and a splint structure supported by said chest pad.

2. An appliance of the character described comprising a chest pad, a hip pad, straps attaching said pads in spaced relation to one side of the body, extensible stay devices having combination pivotal and sliding connections with said chest pad and also separate universal joint connections with said hip pad at the front and rear of the body, respectively, and splint devices supported by said pad structure.

3. In an appliance of the character described, a chest pad comprising a backing plate of light metal construction lined with padding material for embracing the front, rear and intervening side portions of the chest, a hip pad, adjustable b bracing means connecting the corresponding end portions of said pads for leaving said intervening portion of the chest pad free for yielding movement at the side of the chest, and a splint structure carried by said chest pad at a point approximately midway between the ends thereof.

JOHN R. SIEBRANDT. 

